NEAVE AIREY: (1916-1979) British soldier and politician, the first British prisoner-of-war to succee

NEAVE AIREY: (1916-1979) British soldier and politician, the first British prisoner-of-war to succee

Written four days before his assassination –

 ‘It has always been a mystery why the lunatic right suppose that I am one of them’

 

NEAVE AIREY: (1916-1979) British soldier and politician, the first British prisoner-of-war to succeed in escaping from Colditz Castle during World War II. Following the war Neave served with the International Military Tribunal at the Nuremberg Trials. The politician was assassinated in a car bomb attack at the House of Commons. T.L.S., Airey Neave, with holograph salutation and subscription, one page, 4to, House of Commons, London, 26^th March 1979, to Donald McCormick. Neave thanks his correspondent for their letter and remarks 'Your book should be very fascinating. Like you, I am always being contacted by mysterious Colonels', further adding 'It has always been a mystery why the lunatic right suppose that I am one of them, but they have said similar things about a number of my colleagues who are moderate in every respect!'. A letter of good content. VG

Donald McCormick (1911-1998) British journalist and historian who also wrote under the pseudonym Richard Deacon. As a journalist on the foreign desk of the Sunday Times McCormick worked alongside Ian Fleming at one stage.

Neave's assassination at the hands of the Irish National Liberation Army, on 30^th March 1979, came just two days after the vote of no confidence which brought down James Callaghan's government and a few weeks before the general election, which brought about a Conservative victory and saw Thatcher come to power as Great Britain's first female Prime Minister.